Beach instead of isolation: Australia boss fined , World Cup qualifier – football

The 58-year-old had to pay a fine of 25,000 Australian dollars (16,700 euros) because he walked on a beach near Sydney despite a positive corona test and ordered self-isolation, the Australian news agency AAP reported, citing the national association Football Australia (FA ). The money is to be donated to the Red Cross and benefit flood victims.

A few players are already missing

“Today we have tried to act as quickly as possible on this matter and we have imposed a significant fine, which underlines how important it is to us that our representatives respect government protocols,” said FA chief James Johnson. Arnold was remorseful. “I sincerely apologize for my miscalculation on Sunday,” he said. “I accept that I should not have left my home under New South Wales self-isolation protocols.”

For the Socceroos, the isolation of their head coach is a hard blow: in the World Cup qualifier against Japan on March 24, a number of important players are already missing due to Covid diseases or injuries. In order to qualify directly for the World Cup in Qatar at the end of the year, Australia must win the match. Arnold could still be on the sidelines at the game if he tests negative for the virus at the end of his isolation period, it said.

Source: dpa

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